Kaiken Mai Mendoza Malbec 2021
A lively garnet red with ruby sparks. On the nose this wine offers an elegant combination of ripe red and black fruits, such as strawberries, cherries, plums and raspberries, laced with hints of tobacco, vanilla and nuts. Very aromatic and complex, the palate is intense yet delicate, with a balanced acidity that leads to a long, elegant finish.
The grapes are sourced from the Kaiken estate in3Vistalba, (Luján de Cuyo) a century-old vineyard planted in1910 and located just south of the city of Mendoza. As is true of many vineyards in Mendoza, the soils here are characterised by their alluvial origin, which means they were created by a process of water erosion in the Andes. These soils are deep and consist of sandy loam, as well as smooth pebbles which are found one metre under the ground, creating a loose and permeable soil structure. The vineyard experiences a broad temperature range, low humidity, and fantastic sun exposure which aids in developing high-quality fruit.
The grapes were hand picked from late March to early April, and manually sorted upon arrival to the winery to preserve only the best clusters. Once sorted, the fruit underwent 7 days of cold, pre-fermentation maceration at 10°C. Alcoholic fermentation took place in concrete tanks for 7 days at a controlled temperature of 25°C using both selected and natural yeasts. This was followed by post-fermentation maceration for 20 days. The wine was then transferred to new and second-use barrels and aged for 18 months.
| RRP | £56.99 |
| Bottle size | 75cl |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Alcoholic strength | 14.8% |
| Country | Argentina |
| Region | Mendoza |
| Subregion | Luján de Cuyo |
| Grapes | Malbec 100% |
| Residual sugar (g/l) | 2.97 |
| Vegetarian | Yes |
| Vegan | Yes |
| Organic | No |
| Biodynamic | No |
| Closure | Natural Cork |
| Winemaker | Juan Pablo Solis |
Kaikenes are wild geese, native to Patagonia, that fly across the Andes between Chile and Argentina. In the same way, legendary Chilean winemaker Aurelio Montes crossed the Andes to make wines in Mendoza. After several exploratory trips, Aurelio saw the enormous potential for premium viticulture in this region and founded the Kaiken winery in 2002. His aim is to make great wines in Mendoza and, in doing so, show the best of both sides of the Andes. His efforts have clearly yielded great results, with Kaiken named ‘New World Producer of the Year’ by the Sommelier Wine Awards in 2024. In addition, they have now achieved B-Corp certification, illustrating their commitment to both responsible and sustainable business practices.
Kaiken’s estate vineyards are planted in the heart of Mendoza and further south in the Uco Valley, where many premium producers are now sourcing fruit. Their focus is primarily on Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, a variety once almost forgotten in the region. As a result of Kaiken’s protection, there are now several old vine Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards in Mendoza that produce excellent wines, including Kaiken’s vineyard in the Vistalba district of Luján de Cuyo, which was first planted in 1910.
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